The Republican journal., 1887-04-14

The EIec ton in Rhode Island.
To TIE EDITOR OF THE JOURNAL: The fight Is
nearly over and the smoke clearing away. For the
first time in thirty years this State has elected
Democratic Governor md majority of state Off
GERS. This is the report from what is conceded to
he the strongest Republican commonwealth In
America, and strange reading it seems. OF course
there must be potent for such revolution.
have alluded to the principal causes in letters to
your paper during the past year. l predicted a
warm fight in April This has been amply fulfill
cd. Since the campaign in which William Sprague
was elected Governor, in 1850, nothing approach
ing the present excitement has been known. Vari-
estimates place the cost of the election to that
erratic scion of the Sprague house at 100000 to
100000 The expense of the present struggle has
been considerable, for money is said to have been
freely used i'll some localities by both parties in
capturing doubtful ballots One thing is beyond
cayil-the elevation Of John W. Davis to the guber
Material chair rcfutcs an old saying that ga poor
man cannot he Governor of Rhode Island" Mr..
Davis is in very moderate circumstances. He had
recently been appointed appraiser of customs in
the city of Pawtucket and the liberal salary con-
nectcd with the position was considered a fortu-
nate prop for his declining years. This he must
sacrifice in order to be called ellis EXcelency"
and receive one thousand dollars to defray cN-
penses that twice the amount would barely meet.
Mr.. Davis is a man of irreproachable character
and will do all he can to make his administration
successful. His majority by the present count is
g,3.
have said the fight is nearly over. There are a
few t"wna in which there no election of men,
1,nr # tl,o 4 4
ready compiled itappears that the Senate is slight
Iy Republican, and the House Democratic to an
extent sufficient to give that party majority of
some two votes in grand committee. This advan-
tage, if maintained, will ensure the election of a
Democratic Lieutenant Governor and Secretary of
state at the Newport session to be held next
month; also candidates of the same political faith
will be selected clerks of courts, high sheris,
and for other places of emolument and trust On
the 18th inst the last chance elect new members
to the Legislature will cease. The old ones will
stand over if their places are not supplied. But
the Democrats propose that no doubt shall exist
on this score. They are prepared to bribe voters
to the last extremity, and evidently intend to make
the change in administration complete.
Governor Wetmore has minority of nearly
5000 votes when the prohibitOry ballots are count
ed with the Democrats. Where is the G,OOO to
5000 majority for the Republican ticket, such as
the State has and may be expected to roll up?
Gone where 1t will continue to go SO long as our
legislators create well salalied offices and fill them
by each others votes. The Republican flag will
trail in the dust in Rhode Island Just as long as
the party concludes to carry such costly dead.
weights as the present Chief of State Police, and
the men who elected him to that office. have re-
capitulated the features of the "May deal' for
your columns and need not refer to the details
again. Men Of all parties in revolt at the con
tnuance of Braytonism and criticised most I'M
mercifully Attorney General Metcalf, whose work
IN helping Brayton to enforce the prohibitory
amendment has been singularly barren of hoped
for results
1t viii not do to say this political earthquake has
been brought upon lis by the use of rumseer's
money contributed from this and other States
That may have been an element, but a very limited
one The defiance of probably the most corrupt
ring New England has known compelled self-rc.
specting Republicans to utilize the Democratic
party to strike blow that should crush the of
Tenders. The presence of three Bravton men on
the ticket for Senator and twelve representatives
in Providence led to defeat of the entire Repub
lcan ticket and consequent Democratic success
Inc victory Is by no means partisan one. The
consecutive. changes rung by the Providence Jour
nal on the slogan "Wetmore's money and BRAY
tons management" influenced many people who
have heretofore swallowed tough doses of Repub
llcan party dictatlon to scratch suspected candi
dates without mercy. When the Republican party
Is true TO Itself and the best interests of the State
when 1t eXcommuncates the "Boss'' and dictates
Its own policy-then may dwellers in other com
monWealths look for Rhode Island to resume he,
place in the vanguard.
AS may be presumed the prohbtory amend
meht Is being most nagrantly violated while the
special machinery secured for its enforcement il
working for personal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT. Drunken
ness Is undeniably on the increase. The Legisla
lure Is working on certain amendments to the law
which 1t is conceived will vastly strengthen it
Most OF the success realized in fighting the run
power has been attained by local officers under
the old law.
The proposed amendment, giving to women tho
right OF franchise under the same conditions a.
men, failed of the two-thirds vote necessary
More caution was used than with the prol,ibitor,
amendment one year ago. Few votes were cas
intended as being merely complimentary The
totli results are not yet before me- but the ma or
ity against the amendment is certainly over Il 900
III the haste incident upon scanty time to reacl
you by next mail have to omit many particulars
'h;st might be of interest Probably in due seaso,
they may he brought to your notice by way O
quotations from the Rhode Island newspapers.
NJ. NJ. REYNOLDS.